British Columbia

This sprawling province includes some of the last true wilderness in North America—and the chance to enjoy it from a kayak, sailboat, floatplane, or hiking path before bedding down at a high-style lodge or a back-to-nature campsite. In the Lower Mainland, in and around Vancouver, British Columbia appears a brash young province with a population that sees its future in the Pacific Rim. In the north, however, are ancient rain forests, untamed wilderness, and First Nations peoples who have lived on the land for more than 10,000 years. Whistler, a short drive north from Vancouver, is as popular resort town that hosted many of the 2010 Winter Olympics events. To the east lie the vineyards and orchards of the Okanagan Valley. In the lovely Haida Gwaii, or Queen Charlotte Islands, native Haida culture is undergoing a renaissance.

EXPLORE BRITISH COLUMBIA

Vancouver

Vancouver is a delicious juxtaposition of urban sophistication and on-your-doorstep wilderness adventure. The mountains and seascape make the city an…